Natural Resources Natural Resources Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning

Louis ReneLouis Rene’’ Barrera,Barrera,Environmental Conservation Information SpecialistEnvironmental Conservation Information Specialist

Natural Resources Division Natural Resources Division Austin Nature Preserves SystemAustin Nature Preserves System

Parks and Recreation DepartmentParks and Recreation DepartmentCity of Austin, TexasCity of Austin, Texas

We live, work and recreate in a We live, work and recreate in a ““dynamicdynamic”” natural worldnatural world

How well do we manage natures inherent, functional values or How well do we manage natures inherent, functional values or ecosystem services? ecosystem services?

How well do we sustain habitat for a full range of native plant How well do we sustain habitat for a full range of native plant and and wildlife communities?wildlife communities?

How well do we identify, establish, maintain and restore biologiHow well do we identify, establish, maintain and restore biological cal diversity, ecologically viable natural areas, conservation easemdiversity, ecologically viable natural areas, conservation easements ents and or green infrastructure?and or green infrastructure?

Do we share a common strategy when managing our natural Do we share a common strategy when managing our natural resources?resources?

We consider the impact on the We consider the impact on the environment in everything that we environment in everything that we do. do. (City of Austin(City of Austin’’s Green Vision)s Green Vision)

Sustainable communitySustainable community

““ LongLong--range growth plans that support Council's range growth plans that support Council's priority of building a sustainable community are priority of building a sustainable community are managed primarily by Economic Growth and managed primarily by Economic Growth and Redevelopment Services, the Neighborhood Planning Redevelopment Services, the Neighborhood Planning and Zoning Department and the Watershed Protection and Zoning Department and the Watershed Protection Department. The City's utility companies also Department. The City's utility companies also contribute to this priority through the development contribute to this priority through the development and implementation of longand implementation of long--range strategic plans that range strategic plans that emphasize conservation and environmental emphasize conservation and environmental protection.protection.”” COA council priorityCOA council priority

Living SystemsLiving Systems

We all share responsibility as natural We all share responsibility as natural resources stewards and recognize that resources stewards and recognize that air, land and water are interconnected air, land and water are interconnected in sustaining all life, in protecting in sustaining all life, in protecting public health and in achieving healthy, public health and in achieving healthy, biologically diverse ecosystems and biologically diverse ecosystems and the sustainable economies that depend the sustainable economies that depend on these ecosystems. *on these ecosystems. *

Natural Resources Management Natural Resources Management

Budget SnapshotBudget SnapshotBudget by Fiscal Year

$-

$200,000.00

$400,000.00

$600,000.00

$800,000.00

$1,000,000.00

$1,200,000.00

$1,400,000.00

$1,600,000.00

$1,800,000.00

$2,000,000.00

1990

-1991

1991

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1992

-1993

1993

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1994

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1995

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1996

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1997

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1998

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1999

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2000

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2001

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2002

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2003

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2004

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2005

-2006

2006

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BCPANPS

FTEFTE’’ssNumber of Employees

0123456789

101112131415161718

1990

-1991

1991

-1992

1992

-1993

1993

-1994

1994

-1995

1995

-1996

1996

-1997

1997

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1998

-1999

1999

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2000

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2001

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2002

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2003

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2004

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2005

-2006

2006

-2007

ANPS FTE BCP FTE

FragmentedFragmented

Ecosystems do not Ecosystems do not understandunderstand……

Jurisdictions, watershed boundaries, Jurisdictions, watershed boundaries, agencies, departments, zoning, or agencies, departments, zoning, or

individual speciesindividual species……

““ For many years the management and For many years the management and conservation of wildlife species has focused on conservation of wildlife species has focused on the individual animal or population of interest. the individual animal or population of interest. In recent years, wildlife biologist have begun In recent years, wildlife biologist have begun to deto de--emphasize this emphasize this ‘‘singlesingle--speciesspecies’’approach.approach.”” ––Texas Wildlife Action Plan, TPWD, 2006Texas Wildlife Action Plan, TPWD, 2006

Managing Natural Resources Managing Natural Resources asas……

ECOSYSTEMSECOSYSTEMS

Organizational AlignmentOrganizational Alignment

LetLet’’s develop an organizational structure s develop an organizational structure that helps our staff, individual that helps our staff, individual departments, independent organizations departments, independent organizations and citizens fulfill Austinand citizens fulfill Austin’’s s ““GreenGreen””mission.mission.

Interdisciplinary ApproachInterdisciplinary Approach

Ecosystem StrategyEcosystem Strategy

Facilitates the enhancement and restoration of biological diversity.Utilizes sustainable land management performance Utilizes sustainable land management performance guidelines and measures.guidelines and measures.Fosters ecological stewardship and intergenerational Fosters ecological stewardship and intergenerational sustainability. sustainability. Focuses on Focuses on ““EcosystemEcosystem-- basedbased”” management principles.management principles.

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

Five Five ““CC’’ss””

CommunicationCommunicationCooperation Cooperation Coordination Coordination CollaborationCollaborationCommitmentCommitment

Sustainability based performance Sustainability based performance measuresmeasures

Core vs. semi coreCore vs. semi core…… that is the question! that is the question! Focus on measurable goals that specify Focus on measurable goals that specify future processes and outcomes necessary to future processes and outcomes necessary to maintain sustainable environments.maintain sustainable environments.Restores and conserve structural complexity Restores and conserve structural complexity which strengthen ecosystems from natural which strengthen ecosystems from natural disturbance and produces genetic resources disturbance and produces genetic resources necessary to adapt to long term change. necessary to adapt to long term change. Focus on intergenerational sustainabilityFocus on intergenerational sustainability

““The goal of EcosystemThe goal of Ecosystem--based based management is to maintain the health of management is to maintain the health of the whole as well as the parts.the whole as well as the parts.””

--Pew oceans report 2003Pew oceans report 2003

Land Land

Conserve and restore representative examples of Conserve and restore representative examples of Central Texas ecosystems and enhance native biological Central Texas ecosystems and enhance native biological diversity. diversity. Protect natural ecological processes, community Protect natural ecological processes, community structure and natural functional values.structure and natural functional values.Serve as sanctuary for resident and migratory wildlife.Serve as sanctuary for resident and migratory wildlife.Protect rare threatened and endangered species and Protect rare threatened and endangered species and preserve their communities structural requirements.preserve their communities structural requirements.Enhance opportunities for natural resource based Enhance opportunities for natural resource based recreation, education and stewardship.recreation, education and stewardship.

AirAir

Develop and implement programs that reduce the impact Develop and implement programs that reduce the impact of human activities on regional air quality; of human activities on regional air quality; Promote air quality education and outreach to citizens Promote air quality education and outreach to citizens and local businessesand local businessesWork with regional partners to promote healthy air in Work with regional partners to promote healthy air in Central Texas.Central Texas.Increasing the capacity of natural areas and green infrastructure to sequester carbon.Enhance opportunities for natural resources based Enhance opportunities for natural resources based recreation, education/ research and stewardship.recreation, education/ research and stewardship.

WaterWater

Conserve and sustain representative examples of Conserve and sustain representative examples of aquatic communities, and their representative aquatic communities, and their representative ecosystems.ecosystems.Protect water quality and quantity, including seeps, Protect water quality and quantity, including seeps, springs, corridors, ground water recharge zones and springs, corridors, ground water recharge zones and aquifer levels.aquifer levels.Protect rare threatened and endangered aquatic species Protect rare threatened and endangered aquatic species and their habitats and their habitats Enhance opportunities for natural resource based Enhance opportunities for natural resource based recreation, education/ research and stewardship.recreation, education/ research and stewardship.

WildlifeWildlife

Help sustain viable populations of native and migratory Help sustain viable populations of native and migratory species that are representative of our region.species that are representative of our region.Maintain integral species processes, pollinators, seed Maintain integral species processes, pollinators, seed

dispersal, herbivorerydispersal, herbivoreryProvide opportunities with minimal disturbance and or Provide opportunities with minimal disturbance and or

human influences.human influences.Protect rare threatened and endangered species and Protect rare threatened and endangered species and

their habitats.their habitats.Enhance opportunities for natural resource based Enhance opportunities for natural resource based

recreation, education/ research and stewardship.recreation, education/ research and stewardship.

EnergyEnergy

A commitment to prudently explore solar and other emerging energy technologiesAdvances the development of a local clean energy industry.Continues to restore urban forestry to mitigate affects of Heat IslandIncrease the capacity of natural areas and green infrastructure to sequester carbon.Enhance opportunities for natural resource based Enhance opportunities for natural resource based recreation, education/ research and stewardship.recreation, education/ research and stewardship.

WasteWaste

Develop and implements programs that reduce the Develop and implements programs that reduce the impact of human activities on the environment.impact of human activities on the environment.A commitment to prudently explore solar and other emerging energy technologiesProvide environmentally safe removal of hazardous Provide environmentally safe removal of hazardous materials from waste stream.materials from waste stream.Provide disposal and waste diversion services in order to Provide disposal and waste diversion services in order to protect the environment and conserve resources.protect the environment and conserve resources.Provides R & D in order to maximize waste diversion.Provides R & D in order to maximize waste diversion.

The sum of the partsThe sum of the parts……

Natural Resources Strategic Natural Resources Strategic Working GroupWorking Group

Austin Energy Austin Energy Austin Water UtilityAustin Water UtilityParks and RecreationParks and RecreationSolid Waste Solid Waste Watershed ProtectionWatershed ProtectionAny others?Any others?

Natural Resources Strategic Natural Resources Strategic Working GroupWorking Group

Austin EnergyAustin Energy•• Clean Air ForceClean Air Force•• Forestry/ line managementForestry/ line managementWildlands urban interfaceWildlands urban interface

•• 6000 trees planted6000 trees planted•• Community funding sponsorships Community funding sponsorships •• Undetermined Land holdingsUndetermined Land holdings

Austin Water UtilityAustin Water UtilityWater, Wastewater Management and Water, Wastewater Management and

ConservationConservationBalcones CanyonlandsBalcones Canyonlands•• Endangered species unitEndangered species unitWildlands Conservation DivisionWildlands Conservation DivisionCenter for Environmental Excellence Center for Environmental Excellence --Hornsby Bend Environmental Hornsby Bend Environmental Wildlands urban interfaceWildlands urban interface

Land holdings 28,000 acresLand holdings 28,000 acres

Parks and RecreationParks and RecreationAustin Nature Preserves SystemAustin Nature Preserves SystemEnvironmental educationEnvironmental educationEndangered spp. and Karst cave Endangered spp. and Karst cave

ecosystems.ecosystems.Forestry ServicesForestry Services

Wildlands urban interfaceWildlands urban interface

Land holdings 16,682 acres Land holdings 16,682 acres

Solid WasteSolid Waste•• Waste diversion Waste diversion •• Garbage collection; Recycling Garbage collection; Recycling •• Landfill operations, Landfill operations, •• Litter abatement, Keep Austin Beautiful Litter abatement, Keep Austin Beautiful •• Code compliance Code compliance •• Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development•• Undetermined land holdings Undetermined land holdings

Watershed Protection and Development ReviewWatershed Protection and Development Review•• Master planning Master planning

•• Creek restorationCreek restoration•• Water Quality Water Quality

•• Erosion and flood controlErosion and flood control•• Salamander Research Salamander Research

Grow Green/ Invasive spp. *Edwards Aquifer conservation Grow Green/ Invasive spp. *Edwards Aquifer conservation *Undetermined land holdings Green Classroom (education)*Undetermined land holdings Green Classroom (education)

Equals the wholeEquals the whole

Photo by John Ingram 2004, Indiangrass Wildlife SanctuaryPhoto by John Ingram 2004, Indiangrass Wildlife Sanctuary

What are the next steps?What are the next steps?

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““Treat the Earth Well: It was not given to you Treat the Earth Well: It was not given to you by your parents. It was loaned to you by your by your parents. It was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the earth from ourchildren. We do not inherit the earth from ourAncestors, we borrow it from our Children.Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children.””

——Ancient Indian ProverbAncient Indian Proverb